Georgia Set To Vote on Extensive Wrestling Regulations

It is likely a Pro Wrestling Regulation will be voted on at the meeting.

The current proposed regulation is as follows:

Proposed Wrestling Rules

85-4-.01 (Licensed Organizations)

(1) No person shall promote or hold a professional

wrestling match, contest, or

exhibition within this state without first obtaining a

Wrestling Organization

license issued by the commission. Licenses shall be issued

annually and shall

expire on December 31 of each calendar year. Authority:

43-4B-51 (c) and 43-

4B-50 (a)

(2) Wrestling Organizations shall apply to the commission

for a license required by

subsection (1) of this section on a form provided by the

commission. The

application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee

not to exceed $100.00.

(3) While promoting and sponsoring a match, contest, or

exhibition of wrestling in

this state, the Wrestling Organization shall:

(a) Hold a valid license issued by the commission as a

professional Wrestling

Organization. Authority: 43-4B-51 (c) and 43-4B-50

(b) File an event report, as specified by the commission,

with the commission

15 days before each professional match, contest, or

exhibition and 15 days

after the professional match, contest, or exhibition.

Authority: 43-4B-51

(c), 43-4B-52 (a), 43-4B-52(b)

(c) Report to the commission the intent to use foreign

objects or props that are any sharp object, any hammer or

other item that could cause bodily harm. Firearms are not

permitted as acceptable props.Authority 43-

4B-51 (c) and 40-4B-50 (a) (d) At the time the Wrestling

Organization has knowledge that an advertised

wrestler will not appear, the wrestling organization shall

post a notice to

that effect outside of the entrances to the venue and include

such

information as required on post event reporting per 85-4-

.01 (3)(b).

Authority: 43-4B-51 (c), 43-4B-52(a), 43-4B-52(b)

(e) Ensure all buildings or structures used or intended to be

used for holding

or giving professional matches, contests, or exhibitions of

professional

wrestling shall be safe and shall in all manner conform to

the laws,

ordinances, and regulations pertaining to buildings in the

city or

unincorporated area of the county where the building or

structure is

situated. Authority: 43-4B-50 (a)

(4) While authorizing and governing a match, contest, or

exhibition of wrestling in

this state, the Wrestling Organization shall also ensure that:

(a) All wrestlers performing in a match, contest, or

exhibition are at least 18

years old.

(b) All professional wrestlers performing in a match,

contest, or exhibition

shall only wrestle inside the separation barrier or backstage

on anywhere that will not endanger the safety of the public

or the wrestler. defined in Rule 85-4-

.03(a)(3).

(c) Each professional wrestler participating in the match,

contest, or

exhibition has prior to December 31 of every year

submitted to the

commission documentation, signed by a licensed physician,

of passing a

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basic medical exam. The form and contents of the

documentation shall be

provided by the commission. (d) No professional wrestler

shall perform while under the influence of illegal drugs

or alcohol. If there is reason to suspect that a wrestler is

impaired or under

the influence of drugs or alcohol, the organization may be

required to have

the wrestler tested immediately upon request by the

commission.

(e) Anyone involved with the promotion or performance of

a professional

wrestling event shall not deliberately cut themselves, any

other participant,

or any other persons involved in a wrestling match or

event. (f) No professional wrestler shall use anabolic

steroids, human growth

hormone or other controlled substance unless prescribed by

a doctor for a

specific medical condition. Wrestling Organizations are

prohibited from

providing prescription drugs of any kind to a performer.

Authority O.C.G.A. Â§ 43-4B-50(a)

85-4-.02 (Professional wrestling event location)

(1) When a match, contest, or exhibition of professional

wrestling occurs within this

state, the wrestling organization shall take necessary steps

to ensure the safety, health,

and welfare of the wrestlers and the spectators. Such

standards shall include the

following:

(a) The venue used complies with the standards set forth in

Code section 85-4-

.01(3)(e). Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

(b) At least 2 security persons dressed and clearly identified

as security must be

present. Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

(c) There must be a separation barrier between the ring and

the spectators.

i. The barrier shall be made from metal, rope or other

shatterproof material, stable, at

least 42 inches from the floor of the venue, and be designed

to prevent a

wrestler from exiting through the barrier into the seating

area during a contest;

and ii. The barrier shall be 6 feet away from the ring and 4

feet from the first row of

seating. Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

(d) The ring mats must be cleaned and swept after each

wrestling event and must be

replaced by the wrestling organization at least once per

year or 24 shows. Authority 43-4B-50 a)

(e) Glass shall not be permitted to be used in any match,

contest, or exhibition.

Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

(f) Fire shall not make contact with any wrestler during a

match, contest, or

exhibition; and Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

(g) Illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages shall not be

permitted in the locker rooms,

dressing areas, or backstage during a wrestling match,

contest, or exhibition.

Authority 43-4B-50 (a)

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Take a tape measure and look at how far back 4 feet is, which is how far these rules want seating back from the ring barrier.

Note that the rules require medical exams from wrestlers by Dec 31…..but is that of the prior year or the year in which someone may wrestle. If the prior year, how would all wrestlers know they’d work in Georgia the next year and if the year in which someone wrestles, does that mean that someone can wrestle all year so long as they get a medical test in by year’s end?

As with all State efforts to regulate an entertainment form, these rules are stupid & unecessary.